This week the FIM announced the 2010 FIM e-Power International Championship will run in 2010 to showcase the latest in electric motorcycle technology. Four dates are planned so far that ironically run during endurance events. The details of the electric motorcycle class have not been announced so don’t start working on your battery swap technology just yet.

The biggest shock in this announcement is the absense of eGrandPrix in the press release but the silence told the tale. Azhar Hussain followed up days later with a press release expressing regret for the FIM backpedaling on it’s agreement to have eGrandPrix run inside the Road Racing Commision (CCR). Mr. Hussain explained he will continue with the events he has planned and has the backing of the major teams that have been involved with TTXGP to date. He expressed regret that the enthusiasts will not see technology improve as fast as it would if the two groups worked together.

The FIM will have a lot of ground to cover catching up with the eGrandPrix’s established contacts and teams involved with TTXGP, a brand already synonymous with electric motorcycle racing. However, the FIM has extensive knowledge and history at the highest levels of motorcycle racing which should make for a smooth running series if they get teams on board quickly.

See the full press release and schedule below and stay as the details of the FIM e-Power series unfold.

FIM Press Release:

Concerned about the preparation for the future of motorcycle sport and in order to promote Alternative Energies, the FIM is pleased to announce the launch of its new Electric Motorcycles Championship: the FIM e-Power International Championship. The events will be held during the opening race of a few rounds of our prestigious championships as of 2010.

Vito Ippolito, FIM President stated: “The FIM, as the governing body of motorcycle sport, must take into account current environmental problems. This is why, in the framework of our agreement with the United Nations Environmental Programme, we put in place every year initiatives aimed at making the motorcycle world aware and reminding us of our duties towards our planet. With the same goal and in order to promote new energies, the FIM is pleased about and proud of the creation of the FIM e-Power International Championship that will be managed by the Road Racing Commission (CCR). We hope to gather many teams around this project in preparation for the future of our sport.”

Claude Danis, Road Racing Commission President added: “The CCR is enthusiastic to support this new championship. We have already seen the interest of the organisers, who like us, are concerned about environmental issues and who want to be involved in competitions using new energy for the benefit of the motorcycle racing of tomorrow. Details on the organisation of this championship will be announced in the coming weeks and other dates should be added to the 2010 provisional calendar.

The provisional 2010 FIM e-Power International Championship calendar is the following:

Date

Place

Country

April 18, 2009

Le Mans (Opening race of the Le Mans 24hours)

France

TBA

Albacete (Opening race of the Albacete 8hours)

Spain

September 12, 2009

Nevers-Magny Cours (Opening race of the Bol d’Or)

France

November 14, 2009 (*)

Doha (Opening race of the Doha 8 hours)

Qatar

* To be confirmed

All riders, teams, organisers and National Motorcycle Federations interested in the FIM-e-Power International Championship are invited to contact: Paul Duparc or Alex Goldenberg.

What’s funny is that flying the race kit all over the world has an exponentially larger impact on the environment than the race vehicles themselves. If anything, racing series should coordinate their schedules better so they’re at least not zig-zagging the planet. If they did it in geographic sequence the carbon footprint and cost savings would be enormous.

I am a huge fan of electric bikes, and look forward to owning one someday, when this racing series has helped the manufacturers develop the technology to to the point where it is as feasible a road bike as the gas-powered one I have now. But for the FIM to say that this is their way of meeting UNEP goals is kinda funny.